Product Performance
Fused bamboo is a natural product engineered to enhance the beauty of applications in diverse weather conditions. dassoXTR is not your regular bamboo decking. It is different from your regular bamboo in many ways.
Our bamboo decks incorporate dasso's patented fusion process and have been Thermally Modified. All dassoXTR bamboo decking products are Class A-rated, W.U.I. compliant, dimensionally stable, will not warp or buckle, have zero VOC, no leaching, easy on cleaning and install 30% faster. All of our bamboo deck boards are precision end-matched to attach the boards seamlessly together which develops and creates beauty of applications in your renovation.
Product Inspection
When the dassoXTR fused bamboo arrives on the jobsite, keep underneath the packaging. Cover the bamboo with a tarp to protect it from weather and sunlight. Like hardwood, Fused Bamboo is photosensitive and tarping the bamboo will protect it from pre-installation UV light color change caused by the sun. When exposed, the unexposed areas will darken to match the already exposed areas, but by tarping you prevent having to explain this temporary appearance on your decking.
dassoXTR Fused Bamboo is manufactured and inspected to ensure it meets our standard. However, fused bamboo strand is a natural material and is subject to normal variations inherent in natural wood and bamboo building material. Bamboo, like wood, is subject to dimensional changes with the environment’s changes. Relative humidity and temperature change specifically have significant effects on all natural products.
Safety
Drilling, sawing, and machining bamboo generates dust. Avoid inhaling bamboo dust by wearing a dust mask. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for tool safety. Visit dassoXTR.com for additional tips on handling this material and the compatible Eisen accessories and fasteners. Look to the “Technical Info” Tab in the details page to download TDS and MSDS.
Recommended Installation
Installing a bamboo deck follows similar steps to hardwood. For dassoXTR decking installation, we recommend using the Eisen® Panda Claw Deck Clip System or equivalent, in combination with the Eisen® D-Plug System. Use proper type and grade stainless steel fasteners/screws. Visit dassoXTR.com > “Product > Accessories and Fasteners” for installation accessories for your decking.
The following items are recommended for your decking installation:
- Plastic mallet
- Corded drill
- Drill bits
- Safety glasses
- Power screw gun with ratcheting torque setting
- Chop saw
Fused Bamboo can be crosscut with a chop saw, using a carbide-tipped blade. Ripping can be done on a standard table saw, using a properly aligned guide with a carbide-tipped blade. Anchorseal-2 Wood Sealer or equivalent is strongly recommended on these exposed ends.
- When drilling fused Bamboo, always use Titanium Nitride drill bits. This is available at the dassoXTR website in the Accessories and Fasteners section. Look for “Eisen Titanium Nitride Coated” drill bit of your required size. When drilling into the face of your decking, we recommend using a countersink bit with a positive stop. This will ensure a consistent depth for all the screws.
- Fused Bamboo can be routed or planed with high speed steel or carbide cutters. When required, only sand in the direction of the grain—i.e. belt sander. Never use an orbital sander on your decking. A much better method to buff off scratches and dent is to brush the surface with Scotch-Brite and Silicon Carbide brushes.
Material Application
Plan your deck installation before you start. To reduce workload and simplify your installation, plan your deck surface installation in the multiple of rows+gap. For example: if if the board is 5-?”, and your planned gap is 3/16”, then each row is 5-?” + 3/16” = 5-9/16”. This will ensure you do not need to rip boards for the last row of your deck. In this case, you would want to use a spacer of 3/16” and a deck wrench to ensure your gap size is always accurate.
Gap/Spacing
A space between each row is called the gap. The gap is determined by the type of fastener you choose. A 3/16” gap is standard in North America for decking, however you could find other gap sizes available in the marketplace like 5/32” or 7/32” and anything in between. To ensure consistency, always use a gap spacer and a deck wrench. This will ensure your deck size measurement is meaningful. This spacing requirement is a standard practice to allow for rain water flow and air circulation around the decking. The gap was originally to allow decking boards expansion and contraction caused by the weather change.
Joist Span
Residential and Light Commercial — If you prefer to install all joints atop joists, your dassoXTR decking can be installed at 24" on center. Otherwise, the recommended maximum span for 1x6 (20mm) dassoXTR is 16" on center— but your local building codes may be less. Because dassoXTR bamboo decking is end matched there is no need to have all joints join atop joists. XTR end joints can meet or “fall between” the joists, and independent testing proves this installation practice equals or outperforms other type decking that requires all end joints to end atop a joist (per test ASTM D0732).
When installation is on an angle, the joist spacing should be 12” centers. Determine the final joist spacing only after talking with local building code officials.
Heavy Commercial — the recommended span for heavy commercial grade 2x6 (40mm) dassoXTR decking is 12", 16", 18", 24” or 36” center to center for non-vehicle traffic if the area’s length or width is wider than 6 feet for applications such as Marinas, Boardwalks or Piers.
NOTE: Your local building codes may span less.
NOTE: In Heavy Commercial applications with utility carts less than 1,200 Ibs running on the decking, a max span of 24" is recommended. Joints must land on joists. In addition, bearing structural design applies.
Ventilation
The structure should be built to meet or exceed your local building code—and joist bottoms hang at least 6" above the ground—less than that will void the warranty for the decking. There must be adequate air circulation underneath to prevent cupping and warping. In applications closer to the ground, a vapor barrier is recommended to prevent water from absorbing into the underside of the decking.
NOTE: For roof setups and applications above concrete, extra spacing requirements to address ground-generated moisture does not apply.
Hidden Fasteners
Side grooved dassoXTR is built for a hidden fastener application; the rows are run with a continuous side groove designed for easy installation. Although the groove is cut in accordance with most manufactured fasteners for decking, we recommend using the Eisen Panda Claw Clip System and following their instructions. Sometimes, designers also integrate bamboo panels in adjacent structures.
Recommended Products for Use with dassoXTR
Hidden Fasteners are used in combination with face screws or counter sinking plug systems. They are used for the starter row and ending row of the decking, as well as the stair steps, when ensuring tight hold is crucial. They are also used on every row at the starting position and ending position, with minimum 2” (50mm) away from the butt end.
Face Screwing and Counter Sinking
Top-down screwing is a widely accepted and common method to install decking. XTR decking can be installed with:
- Use a minimum of 2 ¼" length screws on ¾" thick (1x6) and at least 2 ½" screws on 1-1/2" thick (2x6) material. Screws should be 305 grade stainless steel, and preferably 316 grade stainless steel (316 grade is required near water).
- If you are counter sinking the screw heads, use the EISEN® D-PLUG SYSTEM, a complete system for plugging dassoXTR planks. It includes D-Plugs for use with dassoXTR, stainless steel screws, and a driver bit. The counter sink drill bit and glue can be purchased separately.
Number of Screws or Fasteners Needed
Assuming joists are 16" on center approximately 350 screws are needed for each 100 square feet (9 square meters) of decking. Each joist should have a minimum of two screws through EACH plank—do not face screw or countersink when joints meet atop joists. Distance screw holes 2" (50mm) from any butt ends to avoid end cracks and checks due to expansion and contraction. Using the Eisen Panda Claw fastener system, 100 piece kit covers 60 Square feet of 5.4” wide decking.
Screw Material and Type
Always use stainless steel screws for hardwoods or bamboo. Standard head-coated in Grade 305 stainless steel provides corrosion resistance. For locations close to or on the water, especially saltwater, Grade 316 stainless steel will provide even greater corrosion resistance and should be used on your decking.
End Sealer
Use cross cut end sealer as part of the normal production to help prevent splitting and checking at the ends of the bamboo. We recommend that all ends be end sealed as soon as reasonably possible after cutting, using a clear, water-resistant wax. Anchorseal from UC Coatings is one of the most well-known end sealer products, although there are others available. Similar care is taken with indoor bamboo flooring.
NOTE: Failure to end seal the ends at the time of installation will void any claims made against the warranty.
The EISEN® D-PLUG SYSTEM for dassoXTR Installation Instructions
Included in the EISEN® D-PLUG SYSTEM Kit:
- Fused Bamboo D-Plugs – 100 units
- Stainless Steel Face Screw #8, Grade 316, 2-1/2" (62mm) – 100 units
- Hexagon Driver Bits with Star Head Driver #8
Items Needed for Installation:
- Counter Sink Drill Bits matching D-Plug diameter.
- Waterproof Exterior Glue for Wood/Bamboo. Recommended options:
- Titebond® III
- Elmer’s Waterproof Wood Glue
- Power Drill — corded drill recommended for bamboo.
- Belt Sander and Sand Paper — P60 (#60 grit). Avoid using a rotary sander on bamboo board.
- Compressed Air Unit — For cleaning drill holes in bamboo.
- Rubber Mallet
- Rags for Cleaning bamboo surface.
- Proper care tools for bamboo board.
- Maintenance kit for fused bamboo.
Decking Installation Manual